Ridazz address the LAPD Police Commission IMPORTANT
Thread started by
Roadblock at 02.27.12 - 6:30 pm
RIDAZZ.
GATHERING 8AM at Starbucks @ 1st and Los Angeles St.
LOCATION HERE:
http://g.co/maps/2kkj4
Police Commission @ 9AM
Coffee and donuts will be served.
Have you or anyone you know, been treated like a second class citizen just because you are riding a bicycle or walking as a pedestrian?
Too often, the police do not treat traffic crimes very seriously. This includes follow up on hit and runs, enforcement of speed limits and protecting people who use marked crosswalks. Too often, a case runs cold because the police wait 2 weeks just to run a plate. Too often drivers are let off with no citation for hitting or even killing vulnerable road users.
Enough. 2012 is the year we change the culture in Los Angeles. First stop we will be making an appearance at the Los Angeles Police Commission and speaking during public comment.
WE NEED BODIES.
Picture this. 10-40 people show up, fill the gallery and respectfully represent while 4-5 designated speakers request specific asks on behalf of the group. We want to leave the Police Commissioners with the impression that we are serious, organized and have very clear asks.
Here is my list of asks so far. I'd appreciate any feedback from folks out there.
1. Police must elevate the status of hit and run traffic crimes against vulnerable road users (cyclists and pedestrians) to that of assault or of equal urgency, no matter the severity of injury. Hit and run is tantamount to assault and robbery since the driver is leaving the victim with potentially huge hospital bills.
2. If evidence is gathered after a hit and run crime, license plate especially, a run on the plate must be done within minutes/hour of the incident being reported. A cruiser must be deployed to the owner's residence; if not within LAPD jurisdiction, then notify appropriate police authority. Lack of quick response results in loss of evidence, which complicates the ability of the city to prosecute.
3. The driver's excuse "I didn't see them" is an admission of guilt, NOT a reason to excuse the driver, especially if pedestrians are hit on a painted crosswalk. I was taught that if you can't see what's in the road in front of you, you need to slow down and stop immediately. Drivers have to learn this. If collision results in death or serious injury, the driver must be arrested at the scene. Even without serious injury the driver must receive citation regardless. If crosswalk is a SRTS (yellow paint), then citation for speeding in school zone should also apply.
4. Speed limits MUST be enforced through all means possible. If radar is not an option due to the 85th percentile law, then old school methods must be used. I made a request of Sgt. Krumer to inform me of LAPD's available methods of speed enforcement aside from radar. I'm waiting to hear back.
More background:
http://www.kcet.org/socal/departures/landofsunshine/one-ride-at-a-time/lobbying-our-government-for-safer-streets.html
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yes. Unfortunately, that is the way this city works. They make it nice and difficult for the public to address the levers of government.
Roadblock responding to a
comment by trickmilla
02.27.12 - 8:59 pm
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Here is my list of asks so far. I'd appreciate any feedback from folks out there.
[..]
3. The driver's excuse "I didn't see them" is an admission of guilt
It is no such thing. Different situations call for different assignations of blame. An inattentive, impaired, and/or just plain stupid "vulnerable road user" can easily act in such a way that a car driver exercising reasonable prudence nevertheless just plain doesn't see him until it's too late. Determining whether this is the case in a given situation is why we have investigations in the first place.
If collision results in death or serious injury, the driver must be arrested at the scene.
No. Like it or not, no matter how special and precious and green and sustainable and vulnerable we may be, we're not entitled to have the legal presumption of innocence thrown out the window on our behalf. To ask for it just makes us look like assholes, and we have literally no chance of getting it anyway.
Even without serious injury the driver must receive citation regardless.
See above. Both paragraphs.
The rest of it looks good.
PC02.27.12 - 9:22 pm
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ok fair enough. however, let me ask you in particular since you operate heavy equipment for a living. What kind of tolerance does your eomployer allow for error? If you run over someone in the process of your job, how does it go down? What about if someone is killed... I'm curious. I want more responsibility place on the operators of heavy machinery. How does it work in your line of work?
Roadblock responding to a
comment by PC
02.28.12 - 2:37 am
reply
Hey all,
Tomorrow we are asking the police for better protection of cyclists and pedestrians on the streets. I know it's early. That's the city. They make it difficult for people to speak to power by holding public comment at very inconvenient times.
Agenda:
8:30AM
Pre-Meeting spot:
Starbucks at Los Angeles and 1st street a block east of city hall.
9:15AM
walk to LAPD headquarters
9:30AM
Los Angeles Police Commission (LAPD headquarters)
100 West First Street, Room 134
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-236-1400
Here are the meeting points on a map:
http://g.co/maps/duy4c
Here are the talking points:
1. Police must elevate the status of hit and run traffic crimes against vulnerable road users (cyclists and pedestrians) to that of assault or of equal urgency, no matter the severity of injury. Hit and run is tantamount to assault and robbery since the driver is leaving the victim with potentially huge hospital bills.
2. If evidence is gathered after a hit and run crime, license plate especially, a run on the plate must be done within minutes/hour of the incident being reported. A cruiser must be deployed to the owner's residence; if not within LAPD jurisdiction, then notify appropriate police authority. Lack of quick response results in loss of evidence, which complicates the ability of the city to prosecute.
WORKING ON THIS 3. The driver's excuse "I didn't see them" is a potential admission of guilt, NOT a reason to excuse the driver, especially if pedestrians are hit on a painted crosswalk. In driving school you are taught that if you can't see what's in the road in front of you, you need to slow down and stop immediately. Drivers have to learn this. If collision results in death or serious injury, the driver should be arrested at the scene. Even without serious injury the driver should receive citation regardless. If crosswalk is a SRTS (yellow paint), then citation for speeding in school zone should also apply.
4. Speed limits MUST be better enforced through all means possible. If radar is not an option due to the 85th percentile law, then old school methods must be used. I made a request of Sgt. Krumer to inform me of LAPD's available methods of speed enforcement aside from radar. I'm waiting to hear back.
Roadblock03.5.12 - 7:03 am
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Ridazz Roulette!